By Staff Reporter
The South African embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, will be closed on 30 June, according to the International Relations and Cooperation Department.
“This decision, informed by prudent fiscal considerations and the need to prioritise national resource allocation, forms part of a broader strategic realignment of South Africa’s diplomatic missions globally,” the department said on Saturday.
“Since 2021, South Africa has undertaken necessary adjustments to its international footprint to ensure fiscal sustainability while maintaining its commitment to effective diplomatic engagement and bilateral partnerships.”
The department emphasised that this move was not reflective of the value South Africa placed on its longstanding and cordial relations with Bulgaria. Instead it was a measure compelled by the “imperative of responsible fiscal stewardship”.
Extensive consultations were held between International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and his Bulgarian counterpart, Ivan Kondov.
“To ensure continued collaboration, South Africa will maintain diplomatic and consular relations with Bulgaria through its resident Mission in Athens, Greece, which will assume responsibility for bilateral engagements,” the department said in a statement.
The Bulgarian Embassy in Pretoria will stay open.
The South African government remains “optimistic” that the closure is temporary.
“We express our earnest intention to restore a dedicated diplomatic presence in Sofia as soon as fiscal conditions permit, reflecting our shared aspirations for a deepened partnership,” said Lamola.
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